§ MR. STEADMAN (Tower Hamlets, Stepney)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, since the issue of the Report and the accompanying recommendations of the Committee of Inquiry on the Cab Service of London, any steps have been taken to abolish the railway privilege cab system at the great London railway stations; and whether a petition signed by over 6,000 cab drivers has been received, and what decision in reference to their prayer has been arrived at?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir M. W. RIDLEY,) Lancashire, BlackpoolI have no power to abolish the privilege system, but I have done everything that was within my power, unfortunately without success, to bring about an arrangement acceptable to both parties. I have not received the petition referred to in the second paragraph.
§ MR. STEADMANWill the right honourable Gentleman promise to make further inquiry and carry out the recommendations of the late Home Secretary on the privilege cab system?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENTI am not prepared to make any further inquiry. After the Report of the Committee attempts were made to abolish the system, and I did my best to come to an arrangement satisfactory to both parties, but I have not succeeded. There is an end of the matter, so far as I am concerned.